The Proposed Larkin College of Osteopathic Medicine - Larkin University

Student Services

Larkin has a deep understanding of the region’s landscape and a longstanding commitment to health that spans nearly six decades. With bold vision and unwavering dedication—true to the spirit of the Larkin lion—our institution is supported by a family legacy that has guided the inception, planning, and execution of the School of Osteopathic Medicine. As part of the Larkin family of education and health care, we are proud to continue transforming medicine, education, and community health across the region, state, nation, and beyond.

Larkin is uniquely positioned to launch a School of Osteopathic Medicine. The osteopathic philosophy emphasizes whole-person care and produces physicians who often serve in rural, underserved, and inner-city communities. Graduates go on to practice in both primary care and specialty fields, addressing the critical need for high-quality care in areas that need it most. Osteopathic medicine continues to be a top choice for students and communities alike, thanks to its mission-driven approach and strong health outcomes.

Message from the Dean

Faculty & Staff

Program Overview

MISSION

Creating Health. Creating Change.

The Larkin family of education and health care will transform the lives of students, transform how medicine is delivered, and transform how education is delivered. This transformative process will be evident in creating solutions for the health of the region, state, nation and globally in the near and distant future.

Transform the lives of others and yourself by developing an approach to each patient as an individual rather than a health care problem with sustainable solutions.

Become a complete physician- knowledgeable in all patient care aspects there by changing patients’ future to health.

Vision: Precision education that is individualized to student learning and creating a precision healthcare transformation that is individualized to the patient. Students will be the learning how to initiate transformative leadership that is impactful and transform the healthcare system by creating physician leaders, creating patients’ health, creating local and global community opportunities, and graduate ethical and unprincipled leadership

VISION

Execution of the Vision:

Creating Solutions.

Transform the healthcare system by creating physician leaders who will lead the systems in their community.

Transform the patient’s health by facing the challenges of the future to create health while ameliorating disease.

Transform the communities by partnering with others in communities to create safe communities and health opportunities.

Transform the nation and international landscape by collaborative interactions with other key stakeholders.

Transform health by offering ethical care to each person.

Strategic Vision:

Sustainable

Facility: energy efficient, with area that has wellness for student success – ample study rooms, collaborative spaces, and a park for wellness activities, future gardens for discussion on nutrition. Adopt (possibly grant funded) energy conservation standard of renewable energy – partial or full with low carbon foot print such as EV chargers for cars, wind/solar/ lights or technology

Technology in the building such as virtual rooms in the simulation space ( a focus on the future learning), stealth for learning body sounds, POCUS and other task trainers (grant maybe funded 1-2 years with matching funds from institution up to 1million)

Students: progress towards a servant mentality where the students learn community-based care, participating in community activities such as education of different patient populations. Taking care to the community- participating in wellness events at community centers, high rises, hospitals, hospice and workplace to learn prevention and care. Location of students into the rural area as graduates of a residency program by 50%.

Faculty: Faculty with experiences in creating student success, rural focused education, personalized educational information to nurture students through the rigors of academic competency, student instruction is personalized to help students become critical thinkers by increasing the interaction with the students, mentoring them over the course of the four years to help with the understanding on how to motivate and educate students for success.

University collaboration with the many post graduate students at Larkin University’s robust and growing population of professional health care professionals.

OPPORTUNITY

Leverage the robust Larkin Family of Healthcare and education to create health for patients.

Transform education to be forward facing for the challenges of the future practice of a physician.

Transform health care and delivery system to consider the patient first.

Transform the educational system to be just, principled and professional.

Execute bravely.

INNOVATION

Learn doctoring with vertically and horizontally integrating the education system of the university, medical school, residencies and practices supported by research and interprofessional opportunities that are collaborative within the system, other state stake holders and internationally.

Students learn doctoring to be nurtured into the professional world learning compassionate behavior.

The graduates of Larkin College of Osteopathic medicine will learn from a curriculum that includes principles and ability to understand all cause contributors of disease for the patient – you will learn sustainably practices to create health.

The curriculum will focus on a service over self-model where the physician can move beyond the commonplace to the patient, family and community care of the healthcare landscape. This will translate into a healthcare landscape that is sustainable and nurturing.

The focus of research on a global nature with many collaborative opportunities will provide the students with a world community view of how medicine is delivered and help create solutions to the needs of the community served, the nation and the world.

Larkin Healthcare System:

Larkin Community Hospital has been proudly serving South Florida since 1967 and is an accredited, integrated healthcare delivery system recognized by the Joint Commission. With locations in South Miami, Hialeah, and Hollywood, Florida, Larkin offers a full continuum of care—including inpatient and outpatient services, home health care, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, and assisted living—across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

The South Miami campus is a 146-bed statutory teaching hospital, ranked as the third largest teaching hospital in Florida. It hosts 32 physician training programs and is home to several specialized centers of excellence: the Miami Neuroscience Center, the Center for Advanced Orthopedics, the Cancer Center, and the Florida Academic Dermatology Center. The Palm Springs campus in Hialeah sits on a 15-acre property and features a 247-bed acute care hospital and a seven-story medical office building. In Hollywood, Larkin Community Hospital Behavioral Health Services offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient behavioral health care.

Larkin has long been a trusted institution in both healthcare and education, with a strong history of training students, residents, and physicians under the guidance of experienced clinical faculty. Since its founding, the Larkin network has played a significant role in medical education and patient care throughout the region.

Building on this legacy, Larkin University was established in 2013 to expand educational opportunities through innovative and mission-driven academic programs.

Larkin Educational System:

In a sea of sameness, Larkin is different.

Larkin University—including its College of Pharmacy, Physician Assistant Program, and College of Biomedical Sciences—was founded by Larkin Health Systems, a pioneer in healthcare delivery with a longstanding commitment to serving minority communities. These institutions were not created to follow trends or seize fleeting opportunities. Instead, they were built on a steadfast mission: to center every classroom lesson, lab experience, clinical rotation, and research initiative around the needs of patients and the greater good.

Discover what our Colleges and Programs have to offer, and how our innovative, team-based, and collaborative approach to education prepares students to meet the demands of today’s healthcare system.

Larkin also supports over 30 residency programs, with the first launching in July 2012. Since then, many graduates have gone on to serve communities across the region and the nation with compassion and excellence.

In addition, Larkin collaborates with other medical schools to train students and residents, working together to improve healthcare outcomes for both local communities and the country as a whole.

Research and Innovation:

Larkin’s research initiatives are innovative, rigorous, and grounded in critical thinking across all levels of education. Our programs emphasize collaboration, support, and the development of forward-thinking strategies. With a strong focus on serving both local communities and global health needs, research at Larkin continues to demonstrate the depth and caliber of our healthcare system.

A standout example of this commitment is the Global Research Collaboration Network, known as Team 11. Sponsored by Larkin Community Hospital and integrated into the Department of Research and Academic Affairs, Team 11 provides a free and inclusive platform for individuals to bring forward research and global health issues that can drive meaningful change. The initiative empowers researchers to launch and participate in impactful projects on both local and international scales.

Since its inception, Team 11 has grown into a vibrant global network of over 1,400 researchers—including medical students, graduates, residents, and fellows—from more than 100 countries across every continent. The program has led to numerous successful publications and continues to expand opportunities for global collaboration in healthcare research.

Larkin’s Commitment to Osteopathic Medicine:

Larkin’s longstanding commitment to regional health—through its vibrant university, expansive residency programs, and forward-thinking research—has made a lasting impact on both national and global healthcare and education.

At its core, osteopathic medicine embraces a philosophy focused on promoting health while addressing disease. This approach is rooted in whole-person care and prepares physicians to serve diverse populations. As a result, many osteopathic physicians—whether in general practice or specialty fields—choose to work in medically underserved communities where they are needed most.

Florida, with a population of 23,372,215 in 2024, has the highest percentage of residents over the age of 65 (17.3%) and ranks 8th in having the fewest people under 18 (21.9%). The state is also experiencing a flat birth rate. Its population is highly diverse, comprising 51.5% non-Hispanic white, 26.6% Hispanic/Latino, 14.5% African American, 4% Native American, and 2.3% Asian residents (U.S. Census data). However, physician demographics in Florida do not yet reflect this diversity: only 0.1% are Native American, 5.6% are Black, 17.9% Hispanic, 7.53% Asian, and 54.2% White.

This mismatch highlights the urgent need for a more representative healthcare workforce—something Larkin is uniquely positioned to help address through its inclusive, mission-driven training and education programs.

The City of South Miami and South Florida:

According to FloridaTracking.com, the Miami-Dade area reports the highest incidence rates in the state for several types of cancer, including breast, lung, liver, pancreatic, and kidney (renal) cancers.

South Florida—particularly areas like Homestead—is experiencing rapid population growth. In Homestead, 80.5% of residents are U.S. citizens, and 44.9% are homeowners. The region is seeing an influx of both young families and aging adults, contributing to shifting healthcare needs across generations.

Florida is projected to face a shortage of 5,974 physicians by 2035, according to FloridaHealth.gov. At the same time, census data shows significant growth in the 55+ age group. Older adults often live with multiple chronic conditions, increasing the demand for consistent, high-quality medical care. Currently, 60% of Floridians live with at least one chronic illness, and 40% live with two or more.

To manage these conditions effectively, patients need regular access to physicians and preventive care. However, less than 2% of Florida’s physicians currently serve in rural or direct care roles in the South Florida region—creating a critical gap in healthcare access.

South Florida includes six rural counties—Hardee, DeSoto, Highlands, Okeechobee, Glades, and Hendry—that have historically relied on dedicated hospitals and physician practices to meet community needs. Strengthening healthcare education and physician placement in these areas remains vital to ensuring equitable care across the region.

The proposed Larkin College of Osteopathic Medicine believes in integrity and transparency. It is the policy of the College of Medicine (COM) that all public

information is/will be presented in an accurate, fair, and complete manner. This applies to all printed information as well as content appearing on the

website and content posted by the COM to social media platforms.

Any stakeholder may contact the Commission on

Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) directly. Contact information for the COCA is:

Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation

American Osteopathic Association

142 E. Ontario

Chicago, IL 60611

Phone: (312) 202-8124

predoc@osteopathic.org